First published 2024
Ramin Setoodeh reveals how a reality TV show transformed Donald Trump from real estate mogul into president. The author chronicles Trump's years hosting The Apprentice, the NBC series that reshaped his public image from bankruptcy-prone businessman into America's ultimate boss. Setoodeh conducted extensive interviews with Trump himself, boardroom advisers George Ross and Carolyn Kepcher, Eric Trump, and memorable contestants from the show's long run. The book exposes how producer Mark Burnett and NBC executive Jeff Zucker crafted Trump's television persona, creating a carefully constructed image that bore little resemblance to reality. Setoodeh documents the show's production secrets, backstage drama, and cultural impact. He demonstrates how The Apprentice's portrayal of Trump as a decisive leader and successful entrepreneur provided the foundation for his political career. Trump has acknowledged that his presidency might not have happened without the show. Setoodeh offers readers an inside look at how reality television can manufacture celebrity and influence American politics in unexpected ways.
Genres: biography, business, american, politics, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: celebrity, manufactured-fame
Period: 21st-Century
272 pages · Hardcover · Harper